As I read Deuteronomy 12:20 to prepare for the message last weekend, I kept thinking about this song from one of my favorite albums of all time Sticks and Stones by 77s. The key lyric: “you picked the right time to fail.” That’s the heart of the Gospel.

You fail
You try half-hearted and fail
One foot drags behind you
One foot tripping in front of you

You fail
You spit out manna, God sends quails
Dry bones pile up behind you
More wet mirages in front of you

You can’t go back
You can’t go back

You failed
You sunk like Jonah to the whale
Big mouths follow behind you
Still small voice swallowed up by you

You failed
You picked the right time to fail
Got your past behind you
Got your future in front of you